Thandwe civilians sleep in bomb shelters amid junta air attacks

By Admin 02 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 January 2026, Thandwe

Residents of Thandwe town in Arakan State have been sleeping in bomb shelters following two consecutive airstrikes by Myanmar's military regime that killed and injured civilians, according to local sources.

As the regime continues to target civilian areas, residents say fear of further aerial attacks is growing.

"People are very worried because the military regime is attacking civilian homes. Many are sleeping near bomb shelters, while some are staying inside them. Others are taking refuge in the homes of close relatives," said a local social worker.

The military carried out airstrikes on Thandwe on December 29 and 31, killing nine residents, injuring 17 others, and destroying six houses, local sources said.

Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. Local social organizations are coordinating efforts to provide medical treatment to those wounded in the attacks.

The military also bombed Yatshae Village in Thandwe Township on Christmas Day, December 25, killing a displaced woman.

"The military regime is intensifying airstrikes on towns in Arakan State that the Arakan Army has seized, as it cannot penetrate them through ground offensives. These attacks are aimed at spreading fear and confusion among civilians," said a human rights activist in Arakan State. "People are losing their fundamental rights due to the regime's brutality."

Fighting between the military regime and the Arakan Army has continued in Arakan State for more than two years, with casualties from airstrikes and artillery attacks steadily increasing.

According to a DMG tally, 294 people, including children, were killed and 556 others injured in Arakan State in 2025 as a result of the military regime's violence.